| Term | New World Order |
| Outcomes | Formation of interconnected system of shared institutions • Trade agreements • Coordinated foreign policy • Increased prosperity and stability in much of the globe |
| Criticism | Undermining of state sovereignty by some nationalists |
| Description | The political and economic integration of major Western powers and their colonial empires starting in the late 18th century |
| Driving factors | Spread of liberal democratic ideals • Free trade policies • Shared security interests |
The "New World Order" refers to the political, economic and security integration of the major Western industrialized nations and their colonial empires that took place from the late 18th century through the 20th century. This process, driven by shared liberal democratic values, free trade policies, and geopolitical interests, gradually transformed the global balance of power and created a new system of international cooperation and governance.
The philosophical foundations of the New World Order can be traced back to Enlightenment thinkers in the 17th and 18th centuries, such as Immanuel Kant, who envisioned a "perpetual peace" between nation-states bound by shared liberal principles and economic interdependence. These ideas gained prominence during the Age of Revolutions, as newly independent states like the United States of America and revolutionary France sought to promote democratic values worldwide.
The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century further accelerated the process, as the rapid growth of global trade, finance, and transportation networks encouraged closer economic and political ties between the major Western powers and their colonies in Europe, North America, and beyond. Key milestones included:
By the late 19th century, the basic framework of the New World Order began to take shape. At its core was an integrated economic system of free trade, shared financial institutions, and coordinated macroeconomic policy. This was supported by a network of multilateral agreements, international organizations, and collective security arrangements:
Politically, the New World Order was dominated by liberal democracy, constitutional monarchy, and parliamentary systems - though the degree of power-sharing between states, colonies, and international bodies remained a constant source of debate and tension.
The New World Order brought unprecedented levels of economic growth, technological innovation, and geopolitical stability to much of the world in the 19th and 20th centuries. It enabled the rise of the middle class, the expansion of democracy, and a dramatic reduction in interstate war and colonialism.
However, the system was also criticized by some as undermining national sovereignty and perpetuating economic imperialism. Opponents, ranging from nationalist movements to socialist and anarchist groups, argued that the New World Order concentrated power in the hands of wealthy elites and multinational corporations at the expense of ordinary citizens.
The backlash against perceived lost sovereignty and economic dislocation fueled the growth of populist and anti-globalist political movements in many countries. This tension continues to shape debates over the future direction of the New World Order and international cooperation in the 21st century.
